There's no joke in the weather forecast: the Jersey Shore should brace for a storm that could leave 4 inches of snow in parts of Monmouth County on Monday.

The National Weather Service expects a wintry mix to begin about 3 a.m. Monday and continue through the morning commute. Before it is over, the storm is expected to drop 3 to 4 inches of snow in Monmouth County and lower amounts in Ocean County.

If the storm intensifies, it could leave 6 inches of snow north of Interstate 195, according to the weather service.

The wintry weather is expected to hamper Monday morning's commute with snowfall rates between 1 and 2 inches per hour.

Portions of northern New Jersey will be the most heavily impacted, with as much as 6 inches of snow predicted.

Warmer ground temperatures in the southern portion of the state will help snow to melt by Monday evening, according to the weather service.

If the storm intensifies, as much as 6 inches of snow could fall in Monmouth County and northern Ocean County, according to the National Weather Service.

Samantha Stout, 7, of South Bound Brook, has her photo taken with the Easter Bunny as she waits for the start of the Easter Egg hunt. Seaside Heights Easter Egg hunt on March 31, 2018 in Seaside Heights, NJ. Peter Ackerman

Chris Gyenes holds his daughter Araya, 15 months, for a picture with the Easter Bunny. The Seaside Heights Easter Egg Hunt takes place on the beach with 15,000 pastel eggs buried in the sand for children to find.
Seaside Heights, NJ
Saturday, March 31, 2018
@dhoodhood
Doug Hood

Meredith Yost, 4 of Manchester digs for eggs in the sand. The Seaside Heights Easter Egg Hunt takes place on the beach with 15,000 pastel eggs buried in the sand for children to find.
Seaside Heights, NJ
Saturday, March 31, 2018
@dhoodhood
Doug Hood

Antonia Vincenti, 7, of Woodland Park, Cianna Luster, 7, of Toms River, and Angelo McCornmack peter into one of the egg beds to see if they can spy any possible eggs to pick once the hunt gets going. Seaside Heights Easter Egg hunt on March 31, 2018 in Seaside Heights, NJ. Peter Ackerman

Lila Rogers, 3, of Toms River digs in the sand after the hunt. The Seaside Heights Easter Egg Hunt takes place on the beach with 15,000 pastel eggs buried in the sand for children to find.
Seaside Heights, NJ
Saturday, March 31, 2018
@dhoodhood
Doug Hood

Lyndsay Murphy of Lyndhurst holds her son Robert Hicks, 8 months with the Easter Bunny. The Seaside Heights Easter Egg Hunt takes place on the beach with 15,000 pastel eggs buried in the sand for children to find.
Seaside Heights, NJ
Saturday, March 31, 2018
@dhoodhood Doug Hood

Donny Rogers of Toms River plays with his daughter Lila, 3, before the hunt. The Seaside Heights Easter Egg Hunt takes place on the beach with 15,000 pastel eggs buried in the sand for children to find.
Seaside Heights, NJ
Saturday, March 31, 2018
@dhoodhood
Doug Hood

Lauren Gonzalez, 6, and Mackenzie McCutcheon, 5, of Lavallette dig in the sand. The Seaside Heights Easter Egg Hunt takes place on the beach with 15,000 pastel eggs buried in the sand for children to find.
Seaside Heights, NJ
Saturday, March 31, 2018
@dhoodhood
Doug Hood

Nina Voorhees, 4, of Califon wears a bucket on her head before the hunt. The Seaside Heights Easter Egg Hunt takes place on the beach with 15,000 pastel eggs buried in the sand for children to find.
Seaside Heights, NJ
Saturday, March 31, 2018
@dhoodhood
Doug Hood

Bazil, 2 and Nina, 4 Voorhees of Califon wear buckets on their heads before the hunt. The Seaside Heights Easter Egg Hunt takes place on the beach with 15,000 pastel eggs buried in the sand for children to find.
Seaside Heights, NJ
Saturday, March 31, 2018
@dhoodhood
Doug Hood